Alleged 9/11 mastermind to stand trial in 2028

A U.S. military judge has formally set the trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is alleged to be the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks, to commence on June 5, 2028.

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama issued the scheduling order, establishing a date that is approximately 18 months later than what prosecutors had requested. Mohammed will be tried alongside three other alleged co-conspirators before a military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Captured in Pakistan in 2003, Mohammed has been detained at Guantanamo Bay since 2006.

The case has extended over two decades due to significant legal disputes concerning the admissibility of evidence. Defense attorneys contend that his confessions were obtained under duress through extreme torture, including being waterboarded 183 times, while he was held at covert CIA "black sites." The 2028 trial order comes after a highly contentious legal history that included a revoked plea agreement. In July 2024, prosecutors reached a deal with the defendants to eliminate the death penalty in exchange for life sentences.

However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin swiftly rescinded that agreement following backlash from victims' families, a decision that was upheld by a federal appeals court as being within his jurisdiction. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) has claimed responsibility for conceiving, planning, and executing the September 11, 2001 attacks from inception to conclusion, including leading critical operational meetings with the hijackers in late 1999.

The individuals assisting Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in planning the September 11 attacks include Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and Ammar al-Baluchi. 

Walid bin Attash is accused of aiding in the training of some hijackers and facilitating travel logistics. Mustafa al-Hawsawi is accused of providing financial assistance, credit cards, and travel coordination for the hijackers.

Ramzi bin al-Shibh: Alleged to have served as a crucial link between the hijackers in the United States and al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan.

Ammar al-Baluchi (Ali Abdul Aziz Ali): Alleged to have facilitated financial transactions and offered logistical support to the hijackers. He is also the nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The individuals have been held at the Guantanamo Bay military facility for more than twenty years.